TAPI Pipeline Backed by India

Muhammad Afzal, the Indian envoy to Turkmenistan, told state television in Ashgabat that his country was "an official participant" in the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, the Trend News agency reported Monday.

The $7.6 billion TAPI is a rival to the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline, which has suffered through various stages of negotiation since its initial proposal in 1989.

Turkmenistan may encounter difficulties meeting TAPI supplies as it is committed to arteries currently under construction. Afzal, however, said the technology sector in India and rich energy resources in Turkmenistan made the two countries viable partners on TAPI.

"India's large technological potential and consumer market allows the country to successfully cooperate with Turkmenistan," he said.

New Delhi recently co-sponsored a U.N. resolution on reliable energy transit, which Turkmenistan initiated in September.

"The policy pursued by the (Turkmen) president to create diverse and reliable energy will yield beneficial results for Turkmenistan and countries abroad," said Afzal. "India not only welcomed the Turkmen leader's initiative, but also co-sponsored the resolution."

Author: Ksenia Kochneva